Receiver transducer for wireless power transfer

Abstract

A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a sender comprising:
 a signal generator; 
 an amplifier coupled to the signal generator, said amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves; 
 a sender transducer coupled to the amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves having a first phase based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier; and 
 a sender controller coupled to at least one of the signal generator, the amplifier and the sender transducer and adapted to change the first phase to a second phase based on at least one received configuration parameter; and 
 
 a receiver comprising:
 a receiver transducer adapted and configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by the sender transducer and to generate a receiver electrical signal based on the received ultrasonic waves and to connect to a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer; 
 a receiver communications device adapted and configured to send input to the sender, the input comprising the at least one configuration parameter; and 
 a receiver controller coupled to at least one of the receiver transducer and the receiver electrical storage device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer. 
     
     
       3. A system, comprising:
 a receiver transducer adapted and configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by a sender transducer of a sender and to generate a receiver electrical signal based on the received ultrasonic waves and to connect to a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer; 
 a receiver communications device adapted and configured to send input to the sender, the input comprising at least one configuration parameter that causes the sender to change a first phase of the ultrasonic waves to a second phase; and 
 a receiver controller coupled to at least one of the receiver transducer and the receiver electrical storage device. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of transducers arranged in an array. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the receiver transducer further comprises a electrostatic ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the receiver transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the receiver transducer comprises a flextensional transducer. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the receiver transducer comprises a flexural mode piezoelectric transducer. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the receiver transducer provides electrical energy to a processor. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer. 
     
     
       11. A method for receiving at a receiver ultrasonic energy from a sender, comprising:
 receiving ultrasonic energy having a first phase at the receiver; 
 converting the ultrasonic energy having the first phase into electrical energy at a first efficiency; 
 sending at least one configuration parameter to the sender; 
 receiving ultrasonic energy having a second phase based on the at least one configuration parameter at the receiver; and 
 converting the ultrasonic energy having the second phase into electrical energy at a second efficiency, wherein the second efficiency is different than the first efficiency. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter is received from a sender. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating configuration parameter based upon a signal received from a sender. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising changing the steering of the receiver transducer. 
     
     
       15. A method for receiving at a receiver ultrasonic energy from a sender, comprising:
 receiving ultrasonic energy having a first phase at the receiver; 
 converting the ultrasonic energy having the first phase into electrical energy at a first rate; 
 sending at least one configuration parameter to the sender; 
 receiving ultrasonic energy having a second phase based on the at least one configuration parameter at the receiver; and 
 converting the ultrasonic energy having the second phase into electrical energy at a second rate, wherein the second rate is different than the first rate.